Belt



Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED": STATES BELT Application filed June 30,

This invention relates to belts, and the particular embodiments of the invention here shown comprise material conveying and draining belts, although the invention in certain of its phases has broader aspects. 7

The objects of the invention include. the provision of a simple,durable and relatively inexpensive belt construction of the above indicated class. Further and more specific 10 objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification.

The invention consists in the novel features, arrangements and combinations of parts and materials embodied by way of 'eX-' ample only in the constructions herein described, as illustrative of preferred embodiments. '7 p In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a belt construction embodying the invention and showing the belt in operative position in relation to conveyor pulleys or rollers;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment as of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar to Fig. 1, but illustrate additional embodiments of the inve-ntion. a p

Referring to Fig. 1, the construction there shown may comprise a central band or belt portion 10, preferably formed of relatively thin sheet metal of great tensile strength, as

- for example sheet steel. At each side of the belt portion 10, I preferably provide supplemental belt strips 11 formed of fabric, leather,rubber, combinations of these materials, or other readily flexible compositions 40v secured flatwise to the edges of the portion 10. Conveyor rollers arranged in a well known manner are indicated at 12 and 13. 7

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the metallic belt portion 10 is formed with 4 a multitude of closely spaced perforations 14, which permit moisture or other liquids to be drained away from the material which is carried on the conveyor. These perforations may be of such dimensions and sospaced,

taking into consideration the fineness of the 1928. Serial Nb. 289: 361. 7

material conveyed,' that the material will not dropthrough nor become clogged in the perk forations so as to preclude properdrainin'g. Inasmuch as the belt portion 10', being'of metal, may be'made of great strength and yet be relatively thin, the perforationsthrough such thin relatively-rigid material, within reasonable' limits, have no tendency to be-Q come clogged. That is, particles of material are either small enoughto dropfreely through such perforations, or else areof 'suiii cient size so that they, do not enter the per forations. On the other hand; it willfldeap I reciated "that if similar perforations were made in relativelythicker'andmore yielding material, particles of materialfwo uld :much more f readily become clogged] between the more extendedwalls of theyperromnens' and rations" would vary with varyingtension's and loads and'flexur'e'of thebelt, "so tliatzf par"- ticles would be admitted to the perforations. andlc a'ught therein before dropping through." I find that these difiicultiesaresubstantial-ly obviated with the use of the perforated thin' marten above'described.

also with such material the areaof thepe'rfo e In order thatthe edge'sflof'the belt portion I 10 may be'of substantially ina'giirnuinstren'gth,

I' find it preferable to'l'eav'e aibIankun ier-Z I forated portion along each edge,. asalFLYlB. Also, at intervals of *sayf twentyj -fivel feet along the length ofthe belt, I find it' desirable to leave a'blank unperforated space asat'l'ti,"

several inches in width s'o"asfto permit the T "into se belt materialtobe readily cut-up) tions and joinedas by-rivetingsu stantially without diminishing its strength. The-"flex ible side portions 11 are shown'fa'stened to the portion 10 by rivets at 17:

With mis -construct on large n as's'es'yor heavy materialsmay be carrijedby a onveyor belt relatively light in-=weight and 'of "excep -1" tional durability. By using the highly flex ible flange portions '11, longitudinal flexure of the. load carryingfmetal'f portion IO is avoidedl Also the portion -11 may be readily made of any "desireddegree 'of flexibility and without interfering witlitheloadcar y= r @11 1 li er t mbo e nt fitw l b91119. I The portions-'18 sive material and renewed from time to time, While theportion 10, if made of steelymay be used for long periods of time even for handlin'g rough stone or other materials which quic y destroy many types of conveyor belts by abrasive action.

" It Will be understood that; the relative widths a'nd proportions of the strips end 11 may be varied within-wide limits-to provide the desired conveyor; capacityfthe steel: portion 10 beingofsuflicientstrengthtoicom' 1 1 edge thereof and adapted to be flexed to variable degrees from the plane of said loadcarryi'ng portion for conveying trough.

Iii-testimony whereof I have signedmy" name to this specification. r

V p I STIRLING T OMKINS.

ply with an unusually Wide range of requirements. V c In the embodiment of the invention shown inFig. a pair'o f'steel beltportions arei ndicated at :18',,joined along the midportion other flexible memv are snpp'orted upon 7 of. the belt by a-Qfabriei or conveyor rollersfas12it 20:;1t suita bleangles to provide t-he ,vdjesire'd troiighing to v give the necessary e'epac ityiand draining, properties; 7

'I Fig.4 an embodiment offthe invention "is shown inflwihich'the central portionof the I "belt comprise's a pairiofmetellic agar j 22 a nd 23 connected by a flexible piece 2 4l, and

proyided eteaeh side with fieigibl etroughing c -strips 25t; ,Belts of' a desiredlarge capacity may u tup nt i m i r m ta a d-f ized belt portions, such as use'd in the embodiment of Fig.1. I

" served metelli'cloed carrying pori n Wheth r te ed li'n t'm b u ed;

t o l itudi albend fihere f.sw pt. for the usual slight. crowning armature; as i di at o .e 'con ey0 ";P 1 eyS 1 @632 i y A' .belt;o.f .thedesired length made byriveting togetherthe ends of; one or more Se t o s-6f he d 'pq t ons c ttle 22 1 s bo ugge t dhai-more fies ible portions asatl l, 25, etc., may if; desired also'be riveted-brsecured togetherjat their sed e-. th endeth eefme ere ylft flinoverlapping or substantially; abutting-re 7 4,5; I I; to ,7

' r-W ile' 1 b li ty;extendingsa eegzz ndfiss re lation.

the art a-fter :understandinggthe g-inventi on v thatvarious changes and rno'olificajciqns may V be nnegle Without departing from llhQfSlDiIflb zindscope-of the invention and; it is intended i therefore in the appended'cle'im to-cov er all I s c change ia modifieationsr x I W e v Wh et'i e a med as new d sired to be States is s perforated; load-eerrying portion extending 'i i egrelly' aSub t nti'aldistaneein the direct I tion ,of novement of the belt,; kend' additio al rips. of met r a f e tiv lysgre te t fle r' V theji nvention has been described inp V "dete l h re pe t-r c fte nrp r ed exsimples thereof whiehf'give setisifiactory re 1 snlts, it Will be understoodby those skilled in 3 b fqr flen ri e; i ididraini e.meteriel I i" 1 p isin faI1 el ng d;fiexib she rme al forming therewith a" I 

